The Verdin 
note of complaint is a weak, squeaking peep, not in the least what one 
would expect from a true chickadee” (Bowles). 
Young Chickadees are such cunning little creatures that the temp¬ 
tation to fondle them is sometimes irresistible. The parents may have 
very decided views as to the propriety of such action, or they may regard 
you as some benevolent giant, whose ways are above suspicion. Not 
infrequently, if the young are kindly treated, the parent bird will venture 
upon the hand or shoulder to pursue its necessary offices. 
No. 125 
Verdin 
A. O. U. No. 746. Auriparus flaviceps flaviceps (Sundevall). 
Description. — Adult male: Whole head yellow, the yellow often extending to 
chest (and, rarely, down middle line of breast), clearest (lemon chrome) on throat, more 
olivaceous (citrine) on auriculars and crown, especially laterally and posteriorly (fore¬ 
head in highest plumage touched with chestnut); space just before eye dusky; lesser 
wing-coverts bright chestnut (burnt sienna); remaining upperparts plain drab, the 
rump sometimes faintly glossed with yellow; remaining underparts pale smoky gray 
or buffy gray. Bill dusky horn-color; feet and legs bluish dusky; iris brown. Adult 
female: Like male, but slightly paler. Young birds lack the yellow of head and 
chestnut of wing, but are extensively washed above with yellowish; paler, nearly 
white, below. Length 101.6-114.3 (4.00-4.50); wing 53 (2.09); tail 47 (1.85); bill 8.5 
(.33); tarsus 15.4 (.61). 
Recognition Marks. —Pygmy size; yellow head contrasting with drab body; 
bright chestnut patch on wing; quite distinctive in range. 
Nesting. — Nest: A ball of interlaced twigs, usually thorny; 6 or 7 inches in 
diameter; placed at moderate heights in desert shrubs, without attempt at concealment. 
Entrance is effected by small, round, overarched hole in side, and interior is lined with 
soft substances, chiefly felted plant-downs. Eggs: 4 or 5; pale bluish green, finely 
wreathed or capped and sparingly sprinkled with reddish brown (sayal brown or 
mikado brown). Av. size, 14.5 x 10.7 (.57 x .42). Season: April ist-June 10th. 
Range of Auriparus flaviceps. —Desert areas of southwestern L T nited States and 
Mexico. 
Range of A. f. flaviceps. —“Sonoran deserts of southwestern LInited States and 
Mexico from southern California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah, southeastern 
New Mexico, and southern Texas south to northern Lower California, northern Sonora, 
Durango, Coahuila, and Tamaulipas” (A. O. U. Check-List). 
Distribution in California. —Resident in Lower Sonoran areas of the deserts of 
southeastern portion of State, north to Resting Springs, Inyo County, west to Victor¬ 
ville and Whitewater. Most abundant in Colorado River valley and in Imperial Valley. 
Authorities.—Sundevall (Aegithalusflaviceps) , (Efv. K. Vet-Akad. Fork. Stock¬ 
holm, vii., 1850, p. 129 (orig. desc.; “Sitka or California’’); Cones , Birds Col. Val., 
1878, p. 129 (syn., structural peculiarities, habits, etc.); Sennett, Bull. U. S. Geol. and 
Geog. Surv. Terr., vol. v., no. 3, 1879, p. 378 (Texas; nesting habits, crit., meas., 
etc.); Oberholser, Auk, vol. xiv., 1897, p. 390 (crit. study of the genus Auriparus); 
Gilman , Condor, vol. iv., 1902, p. 88 (San Gorgonio Pass; desc. nests, eggs, habits, etc.). 
